landmark
Canadian National Vimy Memorial
Twin soaring pylons crown a WWI battlefield of preserved trenches and craters above the Douai plain.
10 km · about 20 min drive
Hauts-de-France, France · Europe
Arras is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Agny, 56km from Amiens Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame d'Amiens).
Arras is a town located in Hauts-de-France, France. With a population of 47,052, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Arras sits in France, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Paris time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Arras to your route.
Arras ( ARR-əs; French: [aʁɑs] ; Picard: Aros; historical Dutch: Atrecht [ˈaːtrɛxt] ) is the prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department, which forms part of the region of Hauts-de-France; before the reorganization of 2014 it was in Nord-Pas-de-Calais. The historic centre of the Artois region, with a Baroque townRead more
square, Arras is in northern France at the confluence of the rivers Scarpe and Crinchon.
The Arras plain is on a large chalk plateau bordered on the north by the Marqueffles fault, on the southwest by the Artois and Ternois hills, and on the south by the slopes of Beaufort-Blavincourt. On the east it is connected to the Scarpe valley.
Saint Vedast (or St. Vaast) was the first Catholic bishop in the year 499 and tried to eliminate paganism among the Franks. By 843, Arras was seat of the County of Artois which became part of the Royal domain in 1191. The first mention of the name Arras appeared in the 12th century. Some hypothesize it is a contraction of Atrebates, a Belgic tribe of Gaul and Britain that used to inhabit the area. The name Atrebates could have successively evolved to become Atrades, Atradis, Aras, and finally Arras. Others believe it comes from the Celtic word Ar, meaning 'running water', as the Scarpe river flows through Arras or simply the name of Abraham's wife Sarra spelled backwards.
Arras is Pas-de-Calais' second most populous town after Calais. The town counted 42,621 residents in 2022, with the Arras metropolitan area having a population of 159,719. Arras is located 182 kilometres (113 miles) north of Paris and can be reached in 2 hours by car and in 50 minutes by TGV. It is the historic centre of the former Artois province. Its local speech is characterized as a patois. The city of Arras is well known for its architecture, culture, and history. It was once part of the Spanish Netherlands, a portion of the Low Countries controlled by Spain from 1556 to 1714. Louis XIII conquered Arras in 1640; the town officially became part of France in 1659.
Arras attracts thousands of visitors every year, who commonly explore the city's architecture and historic buildings. Some attractions include the Town Hall and its Belfry (listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 15 July 2005), the "Boves" (a maze 10 metres (33 feet) beneath the city), the Squares (La Place des Héros and La Grand'Place), the Art District (the Theatre of Arras and the Hôtel de Guînes), the Abbey District (The Saint-Vaast Abbey and the Cathedral of Arras), the Vauban Citadel, and the Nemetacum site (the ancient town founded by the Romans 2000 years ago). The Canadian National Vimy Memorial is just outside the town.
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Arras offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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Arras is located in Hauts-de-France, France, Europe. The coordinates are 50.2930 latitude, 2.7819 longitude.
Arras has a population of approximately 47,052 people, making it a town in France.
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Full driving guide for France5 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Twin soaring pylons crown a WWI battlefield of preserved trenches and craters above the Douai plain.
10 km · about 20 min drive
museum
A luminous glass-and-steel satellite of the Louvre rising from a former coal-mining town.
15 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
Lutyens' immense brick arch commemorates 72,000 missing of the Battle of the Somme.
28 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
Lively old quarter of Flemish brick gables and grand squares, the cultural capital of the French north.
43 km · about 50 min drive
cathedral
The largest Gothic cathedral in France, its colossal nave and carved facade lit by a summer light show.
56 km · about 65 min drive
April to October
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